Everything
You Need to Know About Wedding Cakes
Wedding cakes take on different shapes, sizes and flavours all around the world, but what we consider a traditional wedding cake was invented in the 18th century by a chef in London, England named Thomas Rich. It was said to take inspiration after the steeples of St. Bride’s Church.
History: In Ancient Rome, a scone-like wheat or barley cake was broken over the bride’s head for luck and fertility and the couple would eat a few crumbs of that cake together as their first act as a unified married couple, according to Gastronomica: The Journal of Critical Food Studies. Its three tiers, were to be eaten in the following sequence – the bottom to be served during the ceremony, the middle to be served after the ceremony and the top was to be frozen and saved for the christening of their first child. While we have drifted away from part of this tradition, it is still fairly common to save the top tier, or at least a slice of it, for their first wedding anniversary. This tradition symbolizes good luck and prosperity for the couple. If you plan on freezing a portion of your cake to enjoy on your first wedding anniversary, here are some tips:
1. Wrap the cake in plastic cling wrap and then place inside a Ziploc bag. If in doubt, use extra plastic wrap and do not let your freezer defrost. 2. Avoid cutting the top tier as it’s easier to keep from spoiling. 3. Dense cake like chocolate cake will preserve best when freezing long term where as ones with fresh fruit will spoil faster. As long as you have taken the appropriate steps, freezing a cake is still safe to eat a year later. But if the thought of eating an old cake gives you the heebie-jeebies, you and your partner can have a small cake made up for your anniversary to enjoy.
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Photograph by Kayleigh Photography www.KayleighPhotography.com @photographybykayleigh
